Download Habitrol Chewing Gum

Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
New Zealand Datasheet
Name of Medicine
HABITROL® Chewing gum
Nicotine Chewing Gum 2 mg, 4 mg
Presentation
Habitrol Chewing Gum contains 2 mg or 4 mg of nicotine as a nicotine resin in a chewing gum formulation.
Gum pieces are rectangular in shape and are available in fruit, mint, and classic flavours.
Uses
Actions
Nicotine Chewing Gum mimics the pharmacological effects of nicotine from smoking and therefore may be
used to help provide relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Pharmacokinetics
When Habitrol Chewing Gum is chewed, nicotine is steadily released into the mouth and is rapidly absorbed
across the buccal mucosa. A proportion of nicotine reaches the stomach and intestine, by the swallowing
of nicotine containing saliva, where it is inactivated.
The peak plasma nicotine concentration following a single dose of 2 mg gum is approximately 6.4 ng/mL
(at approximately 45 minutes). The peak plasma nicotine concentration following a single dose of 4 mg gum
is approximately 9.3 ng/mL (at approximately 60 minutes). The average plasma nicotine concentration 45
minutes after smoking a cigarette is 15-30 ng/mL.
Nicotine crosses the blood-brain barrier, the placenta and is detectable in breast milk.
Nicotine is eliminated mainly via hepatic metabolism; small amounts being eliminated in unchanged form,
via renal excretion. The plasma half-life is approximately 3 hours.
Indications
Habitrol Chewing Gum is indicated for the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms in nicotine dependency,
as an aid to smoking cessation. Habitrol Chewing Gum may be used as part of a smoking reduction strategy
by smokers who are unable or not ready to stop smoking abruptly, as a step towards stopping completely.
Habitrol Chewing Gum may be used by smokers who are unable or not ready to quit on occasions when
temporary abstinence from smoking is desired.
Dosage and Administration
Quit Now Program
The patient should be advised to stop smoking completely when starting the Habitrol Quit Now Program.
The strength of Habitrol Nicotine Chewing Gum should be chosen according to the smoker's tobacco
dependence. Highly dependent smokers (those smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day), as well as smokers
who have failed to quit when using the 2 mg gum, should use the 4 mg strength. Otherwise, the 2 mg
strength should be used.
One piece of gum should be chewed slowly when the user feels the urge to smoke. The number chewed
should normally be 8-12 pieces of 2 mg gum per day, up to a maximum of 20 per day; or 4-6 pieces of 4 mg
gum per day, up to a maximum of 10 per day.
Directions for use
Concomitant use of acidic beverages, such as coffee or soft drinks, may interfere with the buccal absorption
of nicotine. Acidic beverages should be avoided for 15 minutes prior to chewing the gum.
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chew one piece of gum until the taste becomes strong
Rest the gum between the gum and cheek
When the taste fades, recommence chewing
The chewing routine should be repeated for 30 minutes.
After 3 months, users should gradually cut down the number of gum pieces chewed each day until only 12 pieces of gum per day are required, at which time use of the gum should be stopped. This process may
take 6 months from the start of treatment. Counselling may help smokers to quit. Those using NRT for more
than 9 months should seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Reduce to Quit Program (gradual cessation of smoking)
For smokers who are unwilling or unable to suddenly quit smoking, Habitrol Chewing Gum may be used ,
to help reduce the number of cigarettes smoked before stopping smoking completely. The smoker should
attempt a reduction in cigarette consumption as soon as possible. Consult a healthcare professional if the
number of cigarettes smoked has not been reduced in 6 weeks. Once the number of cigarettes has been
reduced to a point where the smoker can quit completely, then the Quit Now Program should be followed.
Consult a healthcare professional if an attempt to stop smoking completely has not commenced within 6-9
months of beginning treatment.
Combination Therapy
If a smoker has previously relapsed with use of a single form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT),
combination therapy could be beneficial. Smokers who experience breakthrough cravings or have difficulty
controlling cravings using one form of NRT alone could combine the use of Habitrol Patches Step 1 with
Habitrol Chewing Gum 2 mg. Habitrol Chewing Gum 4 mg should not be used with Habitrol Patches.
When using Habitrol Patches Step 1 in addition to Habitrol Chewing Gum 2 mg, it is recommended that 412 pieces of gum are used each day. Most people will use 5-6 pieces. Do not exceed 12 pieces a day.
Combination Therapy should be used for 12 weeks, after which one of the two following programs should
be followed:
1. Stop use of Habitrol Patches and gradually reduce the number of Habitrol Gum used until no longer
needed.
2. Continue with Habitrol Patches Step 2 for 3-4 weeks, then Habitrol Patches Step 3 for a further 3-4
weeks while maintaining the number of Habitrol Chewing Gum 2 mg used each day. After use of
patches is ceased, gradually reduce the number of gum used until no longer needed.
Use in children under 18 years
Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years should only use Habitrol Chewing Gum with the advice of a healthcare
professional. Treatment should not exceed 12 weeks without consultation with a healthcare professional.
Before recommending the use of NRT beyond 12 weeks in this age group, the healthcare professional
should reassess the user’s commitment to smoking cessation and the likely benefit of continued treatment;
treatment should not be extended by more than a further 4 weeks. Do not use in children under 12 years.
Temporary abstinence
Smokers who are unable or not ready to quit may use the Habitrol Chewing Gum on occasions when
temporary abstinence from smoking is required (for example, in smoke-free areas, at their place of work,
on a plane or in other situations where they cannot or choose not to smoke, and there is an urge to smoke).
Refer to “Dosage and Administration” to select the most appropriate Habitrol Chewing Gum strength based
on daily cigarette usage.
Contraindications
Habitrol Chewing Gum should not be used by non-smokers, children under 12 years or those with known
hypersensitivity to nicotine or any of the excipients in the formulation.
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
Warnings and Precautions
Nicotine is a toxic and addictive drug and doses of only milligrams are potentially fatal if rapidly absorbed.
For any smoker, with or without concomitant disease or pregnancy, the risk of NRT use in a smoking
cessation program should be weighed against the hazard of continued smoking and the likelihood of
achieving cessation of smoking without NRT.
Treatment with Habitrol Chewing Gum should be discontinued if symptoms of nicotine overdose appear.
Mild intoxication produces nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, sweating, and
weakness (see Overdosage).
Therapeutic doses of nicotine that are tolerated by adult smokers during treatment can produce severe
symptoms of poisoning in small children and may prove fatal (see Overdosage). Habitrol Chewing Gum
must be kept out of reach of children at all times.
Nicotine-dependent smokers with a recent myocardial infarction, unstable or worsening angina pectoris
(including Prinzmetal’s angina), severe cardiac arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension or recent
cerebrovascular accident should be encouraged to stop smoking with non-pharmacological interventions
(such as counselling). If this fails, Habitrol may be considered, but as data on safety in these patient groups
are limited, initiation should only be under close medical supervision.
Habitrol should be used with caution in patients with:
 severe hypertension, stable angina pectoris, cerebrovascular disease, occlusive peripheral arterial
disease, heart failure
 hyperthyroidism or phaeochromocytoma,
 moderate to severe hepatic impairment and/or severe renal impairment; active peptic ulcer.
Smokers with diabetes mellitus should be advised to monitor their blood sugar levels more closely than
usual when NRT is initiated because catecholamine release can affect carbohydrate metabolism and
vasoconstriction may delay or reduce insulin absorption.
Swallowed nicotine may exacerbate symptoms in patients with active oesophagitis, gastritis or peptic ulcer.
Avoid use of Habitrol Chewing Gum if oral or pharyngeal inflammation is present.
As with other gums, Habitrol Chewing Gum may stick to dentures, dental caps or partial bridges and may
damage dental work.
Mutagenicity/carcinogenicity/reproduction toxicity
No animal studies have been undertaken on Habitrol Chewing Gum. The toxicity of nicotine as a constituent
of tobacco has been well documented. Acute toxic effects include convulsions, cardiac insufficiency, and
paralysis of the respiratory system. In cats and dogs, nicotine at high doses has been shown to potentiate
histamine-induced peptic ulcer. Nicotine has no genotoxic activity in most of the mutagenicity test systems.
The well-known carcinogenicity of tobacco smoking is predominantly caused by pyrolysis products.
However, use of nicotine chewing gum avoids the high temperature required for the formation of these
carcinogenic products.
Reproductive toxicity studies with nicotine in several animal species have demonstrated non-specific
retardation of foetal growth. Studies in rats produced evidence of decreased fertility, prolonged pregnancy,
and behavioural disorders in the offspring. In mice, the offspring of animals exposed to very high doses of
nicotine showed skeletal defects in the peripheral limbs. Overall, there is no clear-cut evidence that nicotine
at the concentrations produced with nicotine gum treatment has teratogenic potential and/or inhibitory
effects on fertility.
All excipients used in Habitrol Chewing Gum are of food or pharmaceutical grade.
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
Use in pregnancy (Category D)
In pregnant women, complete cessation of tobacco consumption should always be recommended, without
NRT use. However, for women unable to quit on their own, NRT may be recommended to assist a quit
attempt. Nicotine is harmful to the foetus. However, the foetal risk is expected to be less than that of
continued smoking due to:
- Lower maximal plasma concentrations with NRT compared with inhaled nicotine, resulting in
nicotine exposure lower or no more than that associated with smoking
- No exposure to polycyclic hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide with NRT.
As nicotine does pass to the foetus, the decision to use NRT should be made as early on in pregnancy as
possible with the aim of discontinuing after use for 2-3 months.
If NRT is used during pregnancy, Habitrol Chewing Gum or Lozenge should preferentially be used while
pregnant as intermittent products usually provide a lower daily dose of nicotine than patches. However, if
the woman suffers from nausea and/or vomiting, the patch may be recommended but should be removed
before going to bed.
Use in lactation
Even in therapeutic doses, nicotine is excreted in breast milk in quantities that may affect the child. Like
smoking, NRT should be avoided during breastfeeding. However Habitrol Chewing Gum or Lozenge may
be used if necessary. Women should breastfeed just before they use the product to allow time between
NRT use and feeding to be as long as possible.
Use in children and adolescents
Data on the use of NRT in treating adolescents under the age of 18 years is limited.
NRT should only be used in adolescents 12 to 17 years after consultation with a healthcare professional
and use should be restricted to 12 weeks. If treatment is required for longer than 12 weeks, a healthcare
professional should be consulted. Do not use in children under 12 years.
Effects on ability to drive or use machines
Smoking cessation can cause behavioural changes. Any risks associated with driving a vehicle or operating
machinery are considered minimal if Habitrol Chewing Gum is used according to the recommended dose.
Adverse Effects
Habitrol Chewing Gum can cause adverse reactions similar to those associated with nicotine administered
in other ways.
Nicotine from chewing gum may sometimes cause a slight irritation of the mouth and throat and increase
salivation at the start of treatment. Excessive swallowing of dissolved nicotine may, at first, cause hiccups.
Those people with a tendency to indigestion may suffer initially from slight dyspepsia or heartburn. Slower
chewing will usually overcome this problem.
Excessive consumption of nicotine chewing gum by non-smokers may lead to nausea, faintness or
headache.
The chewing gum may stick to and, in rare cases, damage dentures and dental appliances.
Adverse reactions are listed below, by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very
common (1/10), common (1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
or very rare (<1/10,000).
Nervous system
disorders:
Common: headache, dizziness
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
Gastrointestinal
disorders:
Musculoskeletal,
connective and bone
disorders:
Cardiac disorders:
Skin and
subcutaneous tissue
disorders:
Immune system
disorders:
Common: salivary hypersecretion, stomatitis, oral pain,
pharyngolaryngeal pain, hiccups, nausea, vomiting,
dyspepsia and flatulence
Common: jaw muscle ache
Uncommon: palpitations
Rare: atrial arrhythmia
Uncommon: erythema, urticaria
Rare: hypersensitivity, angioneurotic oedema and
anaphylactic reactions
Certain symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and insomnia may be ascribed to withdrawal symptoms
from smoking cessation and may be due to insufficient administration of NRT.
Cold sores may develop in association with smoking cessation, but any relationship with NRT is unclear.
The patient may continue to experience nicotine dependence after smoking cessation.
Interactions
No clinically relevant interactions between NRT and other drugs have definitely been established. However,
nicotine may enhance the haemodynamic effects of adenosine.
Smoking, but not nicotine, is associated with increased CYP1A2, and possibly CYP1A1, activity. After
cessation of smoking reduced clearance of substrates for these enzymes may occur. This may lead to an
increased plasma levels for some medicinal products that may be of potential clinical importance in products
with a narrow therapeutic window e.g. theophylline, ropinirole, clozapine and olanzapine.
Cessation of smoking, with or without NRT, may alter the individual’s response to concomitant medication
and may require adjustment of dose. In particular, anticonvulsants may require special monitoring and/or
dosage adjustment.
Dose reduction may be required for:
 caffeine, oestrogens, imipramine, lignocaine, oxazepam, pentazocine, theophylline and warfarin,
possibly due to reversal of hepatic enzyme induction on smoking cessation
 insulin, possibly due to increased subcutaneous absorption of insulin on smoking cessation
 adrenergic antagonists (e.g. prazosin, labetalol), possibly due to reduction in circulating
catecholamines on smoking cessation.
Dose increase may be required for:
 adrenergic agonists (e.g. isoprenaline, phenylephrine), possibly due to reduction in circulating
catecholamines on smoking cessation
Smoking may lead to reduced analgesic effects of opioids (e.g. dextropropoxyphene, pentazocine), reduced
diuretic response to furosemide, reduced blood pressure and heart rate reduction effect of beta-adrenergic
blockers (e.g. propranolol) and reduced responder rates in ulcer healing with H2antagonists.
Both smoking and nicotine administration may raise the blood levels of cortisol and catecholamines.
Dosages of nifedipine, adrenergic antagonists and adrenergic agonists may require adjustment.
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
Overdosage
Symptoms
In overdose, symptoms corresponding to those with heavy smoking may be seen.
The acute lethal oral dose is about 0.5-0.75 mg/kg body weight, or 40-60 mg in an adult. Therapeutic doses
of nicotine that are tolerated by adult smokers can produce severe symptoms of poisoning in small children
and may prove fatal. If poisoning is suspected in a child, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
General symptoms of nicotine poisoning include: sweating, burning throat, salivation, nausea, vomiting,
abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, hearing and vision disturbances, weakness,
palpitations, dilated pupils, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, dyspnoea, circulatory disturbance,
prostration, circulatory collapse, coma and terminal convulsions.
Overdose with Habitrol Chewing Gum could occur if many pieces are chewed simultaneously. Risk of
overdose is small as nausea and vomiting usually occurs at an early stage. Risk of poisoning by swallowing
the gum is small, since the release of nicotine from the gum is slow. Very little nicotine is absorbed from the
stomach and intestine and any that is absorbed will be inactivated by the liver.
Treatment
In the event of overdose or suspected overdose, seek immediate medical advice or contact the Poisons
Information Centre (Telephone: New Zealand 0800 764 766)
Treatment of overdose should be immediate as symptoms may develop rapidly. Emesis is usually
spontaneous. Administration of oral activated charcoal and gastric lavage should be considered as soon as
possible and within 1 hour of ingestion. Monitor vital signs and treat symptomatically.
Pharmaceutical Precautions



Store below 25°C
Store in the original package
Medicines should be kept out of reach of children
Medicine Classification
General Sale Medicine.
Package Quantities
Boxes containing 96 or 384 pieces of gum (12 pieces of gum pet blister pack).
Further Information
List of Excipients
Habitrol Chewing Gum contains nicotine, chewing gum base (containing butylated hydroxytoluene), calcium
carbonate, carnauba wax, gelatin, glycerol, mannitol, menthol, polacrilin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium
carbonate anhydrous, sorbitol, talc, titanium dioxide, water (purified), xylitol.
Classic Habitrol Chewing Gum contains maltitol solution.
Fruit and Mint Habitrol Chewing Gum contains saccharin, saccharin sodium, acesulfame potassium.
Flavours: Fruit – fruit flavour. Mint – eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil. Classic – mild fruit flavour.
Each gum contains sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol with a combined total of 0.4g per piece. For the 2 mg
strength, this is equivalent to 8 g per maximum dose of 20 pieces. For the 4 mg strength, this is equivalent
to 4 g per maximum dose of 10 pieces. Products containing these ingredients may have a laxative effect or
cause diarrhoea.
Habitrol coated gum Datasheet V4.0
Each gum also contains 11.5 mg (0.5 mmol) sodium, which should be taken into account by those on a low
sodium diet. For the 2 mg strength, this is equivalent to 230 mg (10 mmol) sodium per maximum dose of
20 pieces. For the 4 mg strength, this is equivalent to 115 mg (5 mmol) sodium per maximum dose of 10
pieces.
Name and Address
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
Level 11 Zurich House
21 Queen Street
Auckland 1010
New Zealand
FREECALL NZ: 0800 540 144
Date of Preparation
16 August 2016 ® Registered Trademark